From The Guardian:

The World Health Organisation says its guidelines aim to alert governments to declining demand for tobacco. But producers say they put farmers’ livelihoods at risk. More

Did you know:

Zimbabwe is home to southern Africa’s highest concentration of rock art. More

Unlike in some countries where political rivalry ends in the loss of lives and election results take ages to be released, Americans got to know what the future holds for them quickly as a closely fought contest ended in a nail biting finish with the current President of the United States of America retaining his post for four more years.

Running with the background of a weak economy and high unemployment in America, President Obama made successes by providing health care insurance to ordinary citizens in America, ending war in Iraq and going after the world’s most dangerous terrorist Osama Bin Laden. As people were casting their votes Obama sent a message on Tweeter to his supporters, “We’re all in this together. That’s how we campaigned, and that’s who we are. Thank you. – Barack Obama.” The rich favoured Mitt Romney but women voters propelled Obama back into the White House. Obama stole women’s hearts in America through advocating for reproductive rights, access to health care and fair pay. The next four years in office will be a challenging task for Obama – he will have to work hard to fulfill the promises, and build on the gains, made in the last four years.

Graham took himself off to the Vumba for 3 days of competitive golf this past weekend and the kids and I were left to fend for ourselves. In our newfound freedom we decided to go camping on Friday night – in the front garden … we are so brave. As it turns out, our courage faded with the sun, and come bedtime we were inventing reasons to sleep indoors. Tyla won out with the most convincing argument about not being able to find the loo or the torch or the necessary daring in the middle of the night. So we shuffled sheepishly back into the house and all piled into my bed for a night of giggles and fighting for the covers.

On Saturday we ventured out to watch the fireworks display, feeling guilty about leaving the dogs home alone. We packed our picnic basket, the essential bottle of wine for me, some strawberries and cheese, and pizza for the kids. The children ran around like mad things for hours, then ate, then got a bit bored waiting for the fireworks to start. I felt no pain having anaesthetized myself sufficiently with Nederburg Baronne, the full effects of which only made themselves known, thankfully, when I got within spitting distance of my bed.

Sunday found us enjoying lunch at Aunt Jen’s with yours truly vigorously (an exaggeration) participating in animated discussion around the psychology of smell and how people will happily smell your wrist, but will balk when you hold out 2 fingers for them to sniff at – which ended in a fit of giggles. After food, and the vain exhortation to my children to eat (“I’m not going to cook anything for dinner you know” – ever hopeful) I propped my frail head against the sun lounger amongst the old folk and snoozed behind dark glasses, surreptitiously you understand.

I’m sure no-one noticed.

It’s that time of  year again, when the swifts that nest above the car park at our office return and start to have babies, and the babies, invariably, start to fall out of the nest and into the car park. Last year, I kept finding dead, or half dead, baby birds – pink hatchlings, vulnerable and naked without even fluffy baby feathers – which I would take home to bury.

Today, I found this year’s first capsized baby bird. This is the largest I’ve found fallen out of its nest – maybe three four weeks old, with flight feathers on its wings, but its neck is still scrawny and pink, and it’s no where near flight ready. Happily, it is still alive, and seemingly healthy enough, but it’s a long way back up to its home and we don’t know how to shove it back in there. So we’re trying to keep it alive – not an easy prospect.

A crash course in swift rearing however has taught us that our bird is insectivorous. And a few helpful online videos make it clear that hoping birdy will open wide for the worm is wishful thinking. So in lieu of our usual lunch time run, today Bev and I set off on a bug hunting expedition. Ideally, we’d like to find flying bugs – the kind we figure Momma and Poppa Swift would bring home for birdy’s staple diet. But catching flying things requires a coordination I have never possessed. So I kept my eyes on the ground looking for ants and spiders, whilst Bev more optimistically was on the look out crickets and butterflies. It certainly made for a different kind of run. From a bug’s eye view our city is enormous – Just one small patch of grass holds endless crawling creature potential. And shaking up the Tuesday routine to help out a creature in distress gave a valuable reminder of the importance of slowing down, of not being too busy to help, or to care. It’s like the root of activism, or social justice, or trying to make the world a better place. It’s an uphill battle, but you do it anyway. I know birdy probably won’t make it through the night. But that doesn’t mean you don’t try.

The Zimbabwe Market Fair 2012 held in Harare brought together women and young entrepreneurs from all over Zimbabwe. High quality locally made Zimbabwe products were on display. I managed to interact with these three talented groups of women.

1. The Zubo Trust
Zubo hails from Binga, and does Tonga basketry, which they fuse with contemporary stuff to come up with designs for handbags, cell phone cases, cosmetic bags, fruit baskets etc. Available at the Binga Craft Centre or the Craft Designer on 0713 877 949.

2. Gracious Women Institute
These women brought in a unique kind of art to the fair. The seed craft are from Bulawayo. Grace Kamanga who runs the institute also offers training in the following areas: straw art, vase making and flower arrangement. Contact them on 0772 896 798.

3. Stitch in Time Fashions
Ruth Mlambo, an entrepreneur based in Harare’s Hatcliffe Extension, is into fabric design and colouring using the Batik method. Her designs capture Zimbabwean arts and culture. Contact Ruth on 0775 643 709.